Clip assembly for pencils, pens, and the like



Jan. 9, 1951 E. H. SEIBERT CLIP ASSEMBLY FOR FENCILS, PENS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 6, 1949 Patented Jan. 9, 1951 CLlI' ASSEMBLY FOR PENCILS, PENS, AND THE LIKE Ernest H. Scibert, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Autopo nt Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation ,of

Illinois Application October 6, 1949, Serial No. 119,866

4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a novel clip assembly for a mechanical pencil. fountain pen or the like. and more particularly to a novel spring construction for mounting the clip in the cap.

It is. therefore an important obiect of the present invention to provide a novel spring and clip assembly includi g a novel curved leaf s ring so constructed and formed as to straddle and engage a shoulder or offset on the clip to thereb facilitate assembly and provide a positive locking means whereby to retain the clip in operative pos tion.

The present invention further comnrehe ds the provision of a novel leaf spring for spring-loading the clip, the spring being positioned within the end ca of the mechanical penc l or fountain pen and lon itud nally slotted in such manner as to positively engage and lock onto a projection on the clip dispo ed within the slotted upper end of the cap. and spring with the latter being guided into its engaging position with the projection andlocked thereon against lateral movement and disengagement.

A further ob ect of the present inv ntion is" the provision of a novel ore-formed and curved leaf spr ng wh ch prov des the sole supporting and anchoring means for mounting the clip in its pro er a semb ed r lation; the s ri g being located wholly within the cap and when moved into pos t on in the interior of the can automatically locks and tensionally retains the clip Without any oth r securing means.

A still further ob ect is to provide a novel leaf spring so co structed and arranged as to provide a stop for limiting the extent to which the clip may be pivoted and withdrawn from the cap.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of as embly and operation. and such further objects. advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illus trated in the accompanying drawing, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible ofmodification and change, and comprehend's other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' 'In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the novel This facilitates assembly of the clip 1 elevation and in its maximum extended or withdrawn position.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but showing the clip returned to its normal or inoperative position by the novel spring.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the novel curved leaf spring.

Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of the rigid clip.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical cross-section taken on the irregular lne 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical cross-section taken on the irregular line 1-! of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing and to the novel illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a hollow cap, barrel or the like I of metal or other rigid material suitable for use in forming the cap or barrel of a mechanical pencil, fountain pen or the like. and vertically slotted at 2 at the upper normally closed end 3 for receiving the curved upper end l of a pocket clip 5. This clip is provided with a rigid shank 6 having a rounded or curved end i for gripping the cloth of a pocket or other material on which the clip is to be mounted for retaining the pencil or fountain pen.

To tensionally and pivotally mount the rigid clip upon the upper end of the hollow cap I, the arcuate or curved upper end A of the clip is disposed in the. vertical slot 2 and provided with a depending projection 8 extending into the. hollow of the cap and forming a shoulder or ledge 9 on its upper surface, and at its outer or rearwardly extending portionthere is provided a depending projection ll formed with a shoulder or oifset 12 adapted to seat upon and fulcrum about the edge It of the cap at one side of the slot 2. As this transverse slot is symmetrical, the clip may be assembled from either end of the slot.

A curved leaf spring I within the upp r end 3 of the hollow cap I is provided for resiliently or yieldably mounting the rigid clip 5 on or in the cap I whereby to spring-load the clip in such manner as to exert spring tension upon the rigid shank and its curved or rounded gripping end and give a positive gripping action that continuously forces this rounded or curved end a ainst the exterior of the hollow cap or barrel, or against the cloth. of the pocket or other mat rial to which the clip is attached.

This curved leaf spring 54 is of substantial width and provided with a centrally disposed and longitudinally projecting slot i5 extending for substantially the greater portion of the length of the spring and provided adjacent its upper end with "a relatively short slot l6 adapted to receive therein the shoulder 9 on the depending projection 8, and at the extreme end provided with bifurcations or ears I! adapted to form or provide spaced stopslimiting movement of the clip when the shank S and curved tip I of the clip pivot and move away from the cap to the approximate position shown in Fig. 2.

The leaf spring is bent or formed in the manner shown in Fig. 4 where the one end 18 is substantially straight or flat and engages or seats against the interior wall of the cap. Adjacent this end the spring is provided with an upper curved or rounded part l9 substantially conforming with the interior of the extreme upper end of the cap adjacent the slot 2. From this curved or rounded part, the spring provides an approxiniately straight or flat portion 2| conforming to the interior wall of the cap diametrically opposite .10 that wall surface engaged by the end [8, and this flat portion then merges into a lower curved or rounded part 22 and an inturned and substantially flat or straight part 23 in which ends the elongated slot l and in which is formed the short slot 16 for receiving the shoulder 3 on the projection 8. Immediately above the slot H, the outer end 24 of the leaf spring is bent rearwardly and upwardly to provide an angular extension 25 forming the ears ll separated by a recess or depression 28 and providing a pair of spaced stops adapted to span or straddle the adjacent portion of the clip, and when these ears engage or abutthe underside of the upper curved or rounded part is of the spring the shank of the clip is prevented from further, outward pivotal movement, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

In the assembly of the clip and spring, the curved or arcuate upper end 4 of the clip is disposed in the position shown in Fig. 3. Then by the use of a suitable tool the spring :4, in the position shown in Fig. 4, is placed in the lower open end of the cap and moved upwardly into the position it is shown occupying in Fig. 3. When reaching this position, the slot 15 is aligned with and the spring straddles the curved upper end 4 of the clip 5, with the upper end of the depending projection 8 of the clip received in the slot 55 and the shoulder 9 thereof engaging the sprin at the upper end of the slot l6. Thus there is provided a positive lock between the shoulder 9 on the clip and the spring which prevents their disengagement except by the insertion of a. tool and the intentional bodily disengagement of the spring.

By the provision of the upwardly inclined ears or bifurcations i! which also straddle the undersurface of the upper curved end or arcuate part 6 of the clip 5, when the clip is moved outwardly and away from the hollow cap or barrel a predetermined amount (see Figs. 2 and 6), a

positive stop is provided by means of the ends of these ears or bifurcations H engaging the underside of the adjacent portion of the curved part E8 of the spring it, the upper surface of this curved part l9 bearing against the underside of the upper end 3 of the rigid cap and is thus prevented from further movement upwardly. From the above description and the disclosure in the drawing, it will be understood that the spring [4 is mounted Wholly within the hollow fountain pen and the like, comprising a hollow cap having a rounded end provided with a slot extending vertically thereacross, a rigid clip having a curved end received in the slot and a projection depending into the cap, and spring means mounted wholly within the hollow cap for resiliently anchoring the curved end of the clip in the slotted end of the cap, said spring means comprising a leaf spring of substantial and uniform width having a slot extending through the greater portion of its length and of such width as to straddle the curved end of the clip, another slot adjacent an end of the clip and adapted to receive and positively lock the spring onto the depending projection of the clip, and projections on an end of the spring and spaced apart to straddle the curved end of the clip to provide a positive stop limiting the pivotal movement of the clip. 4

A clip assembly for a pencil, fountain pen and the like, consisting of a hollow cap having a vertical slot extending across the upper and normally closed end and opening into the hollow interior, a rigid clip having a curved upper end received in the slot and a shouldered projection depending into the cap, and spring means mounted wholly within the hollow cap for resiliently anchoring the curved end of the clip in the slotted end of the cap, said spring means comprising a leaf spring having an elongated slot of such width as to straddle the curved end of the clip, another slot adjacent an end of the clip and adapted to receive and positively lock the spring onto the depending projection of the clip, and a stop provided on the spring for limiting the pivotal movement of the clip.

3. A clip assembly for a mechanical pencil, fountain pen and the like, comprising a hollow cap provided with a slot extending vertically acrossthe outer, normally closed end of the cap, a .clip having a rigid shank for retaining the cap upon a pocket or other support upon which the pencil or pen is to be mounted, a curved part at the upper end of the clip conformably received in the slot and a projection on this curved part depending into the hollow cap, and a curvedleaf sprlngfor resiliently anchoring the curved part of the clip in the slotted end of the cap, said spring having a slot for, receiving the end of the projection and providing a positive look therebetween, and a stop on the spring for limiting the pivotal movement of the clip.

4. A clip assembly for a mechanical encil, fountain pen and the like, comprising a hollow cap provided with a slot extending vertically across the outer, normally closed end of the cap, a clip having a rigid shank for retaining the cap upon a pocket or other support upon which the pencil or pen is to be mounted, a curved part at the upper end of the clip conformably received in the slot'and provided with a shouldered projection depending into the hollow cap, and a loop spring mounted wholly within the upper end of the cap for resiliently and pivotally mounting the curved part of the clip in the slotted end'of the cap, said spring having a slot for receiving :and; engaging the shoulder on the projection whereby to provide a positive lock between the clip and spring, and stop means on the spring for limiting the pivotal movement of the clip.

ERNEST H. SEIBERT.

No references cited. 

